The "Other" Hideki
Sure, Matsui has a cool reptilian nickname ("Godzilla") and was a major star in Japan; but the last Hideki (Irabu) who came to the Bronx was known as "the Japanese Nolan Ryan" and ended up with a less-flattering reptilian nickname ("fat, expletive toad") ... I've been promoting the idea that any Yankee fan -- if not overly optimistic fantasy GM -- should be thrilled with .280/25/90 production from Matsui. That seems to hold up in the ESPN Mock Draft, where 'Zilla goes #107 overall in Round #9, a round where the other three OF taken averaged .297/27/88 in 2002.

Matsui was taken one pick ahead of teammate Roger Clemens in the ESPN Mock exercise, and earned an overall ranking of #35 among OF. However, in AL-only leagues where the OF pool is much shallower, Matsui is at #12 and may be worth the earlier gamble. Bernie Williams, by comparison, is ranked #22 overall but is the #7 AL OF. Much of this is projection, of course, and it does seem odd that Matsui is ranked one slot ahead of potential breakout star Vernon Wells. However, with a projected auction value of $14, once Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Beltran, Manny Ramirez, Torii Hunter, Garrett Anderson, Ichiro and Wells are gone in AL leagues, it's time to think about Matsui.

Jose, Can You See From The Bullpen?
Okay, nobody knows how old Jose Contreras really is. That might matter if you're in a keeper league. But in focusing on 2003, the important note is that he will NOT start the season in the Yankee rotation. That doesn't keep the latest Cuban refugee in pinstripes out of ESPN's rankings for starting pitchers, where he is projected into the #48 spot overall, or #21 in AL-only leagues, at an auction value of $8. He will almost certainly go higher than that in most drafts and auctions, and the guess here is to let someone else gamble -- unless you're in a league that defines roster spots for SP vs. RP and, like Joe Torre, can stash him in your bullpen.

Probable Starters Mussina (#12 MLB, #6 AL) Clemens (#28 MLB, #13 AL) Wells (#39 MLB, #16 AL) Pettitte (#40 MLB, #17 AL) Contreras (#48, #21); Weaver (#52, #23)

Drafted in Round 9 (#179 overall, one spot ahead of Mike Hampton) in the ESPN Mock, compared to the five who are projected to actually be in the rotation to start the season, Contreras is ranked quite high. Mike Mussina is at #12 among SP (#6 in the AL), Clemens at #28 (13), David Wells at #39 (16), Andy Pettitte at #40 (17) and Jeff Weaver at #52 (23) ... hold it right there. Jeff Weaver is ranked BELOW Contreras? If you can sell someone in your league on the idea of overpaying for an unproven Contreras while Weaver is still on the board, those are the kinds of things that win you a Yoo-Hoo shower.

All's Well That Ends Wells?
David Wells, who has "fantasy bust" written all over him after a 19-win 2002, recently revealed that he had a 1996 on-field heart incident after using a product containing ephedrine, which recently contributed to the death of Orioles rookie Steve Bechler. Even though Wells apparently flatlined during the '96 incident, he considers ephedrine to be safe and uses it "only when he thinks he needs it," according to reports. Is anyone surprised? That's also been Boomer's approach to alcohol use ... Wells says he will consider pitching next year rather than retiring after 2003. Let's see him get through '03 first.